Japan’s exports of iron and steel products declined by 2.8% in the first half of 2025, totaling 15.26 million mt, compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF).
In June 2025, Japan’s iron and steel exports reached 2.52 million mt, marking a slight 0.2% decrease month-on-month and a 2.8% decline year-on-year.
Hot-rolled coil (HRC) topped the list of exported steel products in the first half, despite a 4.1% year-on-year drop, with shipments reaching 5.58 million mt.
Heavy plate came in second with 1.34 million metric tons, reflecting a modest 0.4% increase, followed by galvanized steel products, which declined by 7.2% to 941.9 thousand mt.
In terms of export destinations, shipments to South Korea saw a sharp decline of 21.4%, totaling 1.93 million mt, while exports to China fell by 17.8% to 1.18 million mt.
Exports to the United States also dropped by 15.8%, reaching 531,685 mt.
On the other hand, exports to Taiwan rose by 17.4% to 1.07 million mt, and exports to Thailand increased by 2% to 2.12 million mt.
